4 Players Who Need a Strong End to the Season to Secure Their Futures at Inter

After what has unfortunately yet again become a frustratingly typical Inter season – a fantastic start followed by an lacklustre winter period that undoes the previous good work – there are more than a few familiar faces who have underperformed.

With the Nerazzurri currently placed outside the Champions League places, and qualification considered a prerequisite for progress, it is realistic to assume that if the situation fails to be rectified there will be some high profile exits come the summer.

Here are four players who will need to reassure the club of their value if they are to remain adorned in the blue and black beyond the summer.

4. Antonio Candreva

After a summer of speculation, in which he was very publically courted by the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United, the veteran Italian winger has evidently failed to return his focus to the task at hand.

While he was admittedly able to contribute seven assists during Inter’s impressive 16 game unbeaten streak that opened the season, the club’s subsequent slump in form has coincided with his own, and he hasn’t provided an assist since mid-December.

Even more damning, he isyet to register a goal across all competitions this campaign.

With reports already suggesting his side are willing to let him go for the right price, he will have to produce a run of excellent form to secure his future, and even then it may only serve to increase Inter’s leverage in negotiations with the two interested English parties.

3. Eder

While the Italy international has never been the most prolific of strikers, he has always had an uncanny ability to slot home when it really mattered, often from the bench.

The issue has been his incapability to do so this term. In fact, up until the beginning of February, he had one goal in 24 appearances. However, back to back scores against Crotone and Bologna have helped repair some of the damage.

He will need to prove this wasn’t an anomaly if he is to maintain his status as an Inter representative.

2. Rafinha

It tells you all you need to know that the Barcelona loanee is the only one of these four who as of yet doesn’t have an image of disbelief, anger or despair in an Inter shirt.

Indeed, while it may seem harsh to single out a loanee as someone who is playing for their future, that effectively is the situation.

The Brazilian has recently made it clear he wants to make his stay in Milan a permanent one. The buck therefore lies at his feet to convince the hierarchy that his €35m option to buy is a justifiable outlay, especially under their current financial restraints.

1. Ivan Perisic

The talented Croatian is another who may surprise a few but, as with Candreva, his head appears to have been irrevocably turned from the reports last summer.

While the winger began the season in decent form, he has failed to register a goal or assist since the start of December, and there have already been murmurs that Inter are unwilling to show the same resolve as last summer this time around.

With Jose Mourinho and Manchester United seemingly set to start where they left off come July, Perisic will have to excel in the last few months to reverse his inclusion in the purported summer overhaul that is being prepared for the forthcoming transfer window.